Meteorological Observatory

a scientific institution where meteorological observations are made and the meteorological conditions of an oblast, krai, republic, or country are studied. Some meteorological observatories investigate the conditions of the free atmosphere by taking aerological observations with radiosondes that are carried aloft by aerostats, and the higher atmospheric layers are studied with instruments that are launched by meteorological rockets. Clouds and precipitation are investigated by weather radars and specially equipped flying laboratories in aircraft. In 1956 the majority of the meteorological observatories in the USSR were converted into hydrometeorological observatories.